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Originally posted by richhoeypossibly this is an excerpt of what you saw:
One of the saddest things I've ever read is a letter from Darwin to his wife about the death of his daughter. He comes across as a thoroughly nice, and totally heartbroken, bloke.
Rich.
"From whatever point I look back at her, the main feature in her disposition which at once rises before me is her buoyant joyousness, tempered by two other characteristics, namely her sensitiveness, which might easily have been overlooked by a stranger, and her strong affection. Her joyousness and animal spirits radiated from her whole countenance and rendered every movement elastic and full of life and vigor. It was delightful and cheerful to behold her....
But looking back, always the spirit of joyousness rises before me as her emblem and characteristic: she seemed formed to live a life of happiness: her spirits were always held in check by her sensitiveness lest she should displease those she loved, and her tender love was never weary of displaying itself by fondling and all the other acts of affection....
We have lost the joy of the household, and the solace of our old age: she must have known how much we loved her; oh that she could now know how deeply, how tenderly we do still and shall ever love her dear joyous face. Blessings on her." (April 30, 1851)
here are some other revealing characteristics from keynes' book annie's box (http://www.aboutdarwin.com/literature/Review.html):
Darwin's relation to the servants, unique for an upper-class Victorian home:
"he always spoke to them with politeness, using the expression "Would you be so good" in asking for anything."
"Francis [Darwin's son] remembered being reproved by him [Charles] for using more spoons than he needed to, because it meant more work in cleaning [by the servants]."
"According to a family story, once when it was time for supper, Charles went into the kitchen and played the cook's hand at whist [a card game] for her, so that she could get on with preparing the meal."
Darwin's relation to his children:
"However hard my father was at work, we certainly never restrained ourselves in our romps about the house, and I should certainly have thought that the howls and screams must have been a great annoyance; but we were never stopped."
"Charles and Emma's approach with their children was undemanding and liberal; they saw little value in discipline and learning by rote, but wanted to encourage their children to think for themselves."
"Our father and mother would not even wish to know what we were doing or thinking unless we wished to tell." But if one of the children did want to tell, Charles would make them feel that their opinions and thoughts were valuable to him. "He cared for all our pursuits and interests, and lived our lives with us in a way that very few fathers do ... He always put his whole mind into answering any of our questions."
Darwin's views on cruelty to animals:
"When he saw cruelty, Charles could not restrain his anger ... Charles was prepared to take the neighbors to law. One, a gentleman farmer, was said by some villagers to have allowed some of his sheep to die of starvation. Legal actions against gentry were rare, but when Charles heard about the matter, he went round the whole parish, collected all the evidence himself, had the case brought before the magistrates, and secured a conviction."
(Randal Keynes is a great-great grandson of Charles Darwin and "Annie's Box: Charles Darwin, his Daughter, and Human Evolution" is unlike any other Darwin biography in that it focuses on the private life of Charles Darwin.)
in friendship,
prad
Originally posted by pradtfYeah, that's the one. Really sad, isn't it.
possibly this is an excerpt of what you saw:
"From whatever point I look back at her, the main feature in her disposition which at once rises before me is her buoyant joyousness, tempered by two other characteristics, namely her sensitiveness, which might easily have been overlooked by a stranger, and her strong affection. Her joyousness and animal spirit ...[text shortened]... n biography in that it focuses on the private life of Charles Darwin.)
in friendship,
prad
Originally posted by chancremechanicActually, I took exception to this as well, but for different reasons. I felt it should be reserved for Kentucky. And I live there so I think this gives me some special knowledge.
What do you know about Alabama, punk? I know some boys in "Bamy" that would mop the floor with your face if you dared to mumble that ignorant statement in the great state of Alabama...and whistle "Dixie" doing it...ðŸ˜
Originally posted by pradtfHighly evovled maybe -but his ideas on race were typical of most nineteenth century Europeans.
[b]he does, doesn't he?
he is so highly regarded for his theory of evolution, that it is easy to lose track of how highly evolved he was in so many other ways.
"The variability or diversity of the mental faculties in men of the same race, not to mention the greater differences between the men of distinct races, is so notorious that not a word need here be said."
"At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world... The break between men and his nearest allies will then be wider."
Originally posted by chancremechanicnah - Chrismas & Easter are widely accepted to be capatalist holidays in most homes, not Christian. I thought it time for Christians to get another one that they could keep for themselves, but from Kirk's answer they've got enough already, called Today
It's called CHRISTmas you "freak" from belgium... 😉
Originally posted by belgianfreakThat's fine, freak,...you believe what you want in your house and I'll believe what I want in my house, and on 25 December I observe the birth of Christ regardless of the hoards of shoppers at the Malls...but you are right about everyday being a Christian day...😀
nah - Chrismas & Easter are widely accepted to be capatalist holidays in most homes, not Christian. I thought it time for Christians to get another one that they could keep for themselves, but from Kirk's answer they've got enough already, called [b]Today[/b]
Originally posted by chancremechanicand where did I say that it was my opinion too?
That's fine, freak,...you believe what you want in your house and I'll believe what I want in my house, and on 25 December I observe the birth of Christ regardless of the hoards of shoppers at the Malls...but you are right about everyday being a Christian day...😀
I'll admit it was a little dry, but my comment was supposed to express my disappointment that the for the majority of households the original sentiment of the Christian holidays has been lost. I don't think anyone can deny that this is true.
Originally posted by belgianfreakI am an athiest. Small letters. Nothing to be proud of.
and where did I say that it was my opinion too?
I'll admit it was a little dry, but my comment was supposed to express my disappointment that the for the majority of households the original sentiment of the Christian holidays has been lost. I don't think anyone can deny that this is true.
I was a Mormon. Big letters. Something to be proud of. We fought the west and won. We fought the government and won. We faught the army and won. We joined the Indians and won.
Heritage. That is what it is about.
Christmas?
Yes. Same thing. Christ is that which is good and right. He reigns in the hearts of man because he fought the evil of power ... and won.
Do I believe? No. Do I want Christ abolished? No. He is my heritage. I feel as much ashamed at my abandonment as I feel pride in not giving in to the unknown and superstition.
Let Christmas reign forever. Let Christ reign forever FOR HIS TRUE BELIEVERS. Let Mohammed... DIE A MISERABLE DEATH FOR SAYING THAT "ALL WHO DO NOT FOLLOW ME MUST DIE".
Holy Sh*t! Did I say that? Yes.
"Christmas should be, and is a time when we take forgiveness and kindness to the next level." SVW
What you think Ivan? Quote of the day?
Originally posted by StarValleyWyJust a couple quotes that indicate that the foundational document of Islam is not as intolerant as many seem to think. I'd be interested in seeing any evidence that Mohammed really thought that those who disagreed with him deserved to die.
Let Mohammed... DIE A MISERABLE DEATH FOR SAYING THAT "ALL WHO DO NOT FOLLOW ME MUST DIE".
Holy Sh*t! Did I say that? Yes.
"If your enemy inclines towards peace, then you should seek peace and trust in God."
- Qur'an 60:9
"Those who believe, and the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians—any who believe in God and the Last Day, and act righteously shall have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."
- Qur'an 2:62:
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Originally posted by bbarrMy quotes are from the source that people read and believe. In the last month of his life in Egyptian prison... before they killed him... QTub smuggled out that which the modern Brothers Of Islam..., ie, Bin Laden and all of the medrasses teach and profess... Up till his dying month, he held to peace. Then he gave in out of bitterness and the quote I used above is his. It is an irony of history..., much as the irony of eugenics I have spoken of above... that his followers today read not "In The Shadow Of The Quran"... but the 'Why We Will Triumph" pamphlet by Bin Laden, using qtub's last will and hatement as doctrine. Thus goes much of religion. Never the truth, but what is "used for truth".
Just a couple quotes that indicate that the foundational document of Islam is not as intolerant as many seem to think. I'd be interested in seeing any evidence that Mohammed really thought that those who disagreed with him deserved to die. ...[text shortened]... em shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."
- Qur'an 2:62:
Mike
As a side note... I got into a discussion of this very subject with Bill Bennet just after 911... I made the comment that someone needed to respond to this with a book called "Why We Fight". Much to his credit, he did just that. The news was alt.terrorism and he castigated me mightily for pointing out that any guy with a cell phone, a uhaul truck full of shoulder mount missles shipped into the us in cargo containers... (remember the flap about the guys trying to get false truck commercial drivers licenses) could bring down Six or more jumbo jets with a message to their buddies on the internet as innocuous as "I am really busy. I have to pick up my six children from school at Six pm Friday."... Bill got all bent out of shape... accusing me of "offering advice to the enemy." I responded that the mistake is to think of the enemy as not as smart as you are.
We'll see on that one.
anyway... He did call his book "Why We Fight" as I told him to. Based on the WWII propaganda films.